Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki (Photo: AFP)Iraq PM To Negotiate Changes In US Security Pact -- AFP
BAGHDAD (AFP) — The Iraqi cabinet on Tuesday authorised Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to negotiate changes in the security pact with Washington that sets a timetable for the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.
Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the cabinet approved "necessary and essential changes" to be incorporated in the deal and authorised Maliki to present them to the American side.
"Maliki is now in charge of presenting this new text to the American side," Environment Minister Nermeen Othman who attended the meeting along with her other colleagues told AFP.
Dabbagh said the changes sought in the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) were based on "opinions of the main political entities" and aimed at arriving at a deal that "preserves the sovereignty of Iraq and its national interests."
The cabinet had last week decided to seek changes to the deal, the latest draft of which already stipulates that American forces will withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 2009 and from the country by December 2011.
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My Comment: Here we go again ...